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Author
Topic: Condom Breakage (Read 17034 times)

I recently had protected sex (5 weeks ago approx) with a girl from a massage parlour. Everything was ok as far as I know as the condom did not break or slip off. After we had finished having sex and I withdrew my penis I noticed blood on the condom that must have come from my date. The sight of the blood freaked me out, but I tried to be rational and thought because I used a condom there would be no problem. I tried to forget about everything but recently I have begun to feel a little bit under the weather with mild feelings of tiredness and a rough chest. I know this sounds dumb but I can't help but feel this is due to my encounter in the massage parlour.

Condoms have been proven to prevent hiv infection and it doesn't matter if blood is present or not, they still protect. You didn't have a risk.

You should use condoms no matter if your partner is a sex worker or the girl/guy next door. You need to be using condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, every time, no exceptions until such time as you are in a securely monogamous relationship where you have both tested for ALL STIs together. To agree to have unprotected intercourse is to consent to the possibility of being infected with a sexually transmitted infection. Sex with a condom lasts only a matter of minutes, but hiv is forever.

Have a look through the condom and lube links in my signature line so you can use condoms with confidence.

Anyone who is sexually active should be having a full sexual health care check-up, including but not limited to hiv testing, at least once a year and more often if unprotected intercourse occurs.

If you aren't already having regular, routine check-ups, now is the time to start. As long as you make sure condoms are being used for intercourse, you can fully expect your routine hiv tests to return with negative results. Don't forget to always get checked for all the other sexually transmitted infections as well, because they are MUCH easier to transmit than hiv.

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

It was a stupid thing of me to do. From everything I have ever read and from whatever information I have found I have always been aware that protected sex is protected sex. It was just that I've been feeling a bit unwell recently, nothing major, just not my usual self. This has heightened my anxiety about the incident in question. I guess the sight of the blood also freaked me out as this has never happened to me before. Thank you for your advice, I think everyone here does a fantastic job and provides proper factual information rather than the gossip and hogwash you're likely to here in the pub!Thanks again.

There's no point in beating yourself up about having sex. It's a basic human urge and we're hard-wired to do it. Instead of calling your actions stupid, call them smart. You were smart to use a condom.

Don't forget it's cold and flu season and there are plenty of bugs going around. Get adequate rest and make sure you wash your hands several times a day. Most colds and flu are spread via our hands when we rub our eyes or put a finger in our mouths.

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

I am the world's biggest hypochondriac, so anything to do with my health always scares the **** out of me anyway. I feel angry because it would be so much simpler for someone with my paranoia to totally avoid any situation that may potentially put my health at risk, but as you say I'm only human. We all are. You're right, it wouldn't be much of a surprise to feel a bit low at this time of the year. Guess I'm just overeacting!!! Thanks again for all your help. The support you give to those worried about these issues is invaluable. First class.

Ok, I posted on here yesterday about a recent encounter I had that I felt may have put me at risk. The responses I got helped ease my mind but I just wanted to know what the chances are of becoming infected through touching infected blood/vaginal fluids with your hands as you may do when removing a condom or even using your fingers to arousal a girl. I've heard that you would need to have an open wound on your hands, but some cuts and wounds are so small you may not even know you have them. Can anyone clarify this for me?

I've merged your new thread into your original thread - where you should post all your additional thoughts or questions. It helps us to help you when you keep all your additional thoughts or questions in one thread.

If you need help finding your thread when you come here, click on the "Show own posts" link under your name in the left-hand column of any forum page.

Please also read through the Welcome Thread so you can familiarize yourself with our Forum Posting Guidelines. Thank you for your cooperation.

Skin is an excellent barrier against hiv. Forget about the small cuts etc, if you had a cut that was anything to worry about, you'd know it and you'd hardly be doing anything of a sexual nature with a hand cut that badly. When skin is cut, it immediately starts to heal and protect against the entry of pathogens.

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Ok, so unless I have an open wound that is losing blood then I don't need to worry? As you say if this was the case then I certainly wouldn't be doing anything of a sexual nature with my hands or any other part of my body that had an open wound. Thanks a lot for the clarification, its been a big help.

Taking into account all of the excellent information I've been given, what is the margin for error with condoms? I mean is it fair to say that as long as it stays on your penis and does not break, then you can fully expect to avoid HIV infection. Is it most important that the condom covers the head of the penis, as obviously they can roll up from time to time?

I no longer have any reason to feel that I was at risk of HIV infection, since all the scenarios I have described have been deemed as safe practices. Thank you for the information and advice you have given me. It has certainly added to my knowledge of the manner of HIV infection. I know I may seem a little paranoid, but the questions that I ask involve situation specific circumstances that general information can never accurately answer. Like many on this forum I have also been quite worried about the potential risks involved in any sexual behaviour. I would just like to wish my deepest thanks to all that have answered my questions and helped me to stop worrying. You all provide an invaluable resource for worried minds! My awareness of both my own and others sexual health has certainly increased since reading some of the posts on this forum. I am in no doubt that the advice given here will certainly make me more pro-active and responsible regarding my own sexual health. Thanks again

This may seem a bit of a daft question, but I'll go ahead and ask it nonetheless. Obviously the majority of people that post on this forum believe that they have been exposed to HIV, however, the actual numbers of people that actually were exposed to the virus is probably much lower because some (but not all) people suspected of carrying the HIV virus simply didn't carry it in the first place, or people (like myself) believed they were at risk despite using condoms. What I find quite staggering however, is the number of people that experience symptoms despite not really being at risk, again like myself. In addition, the number of people that experience very severe symptoms but still test negative at 13 weeks is still quite high. So are most 'symptoms' people experience just due to anxiety? I don't ask this question to try and sound clever, I'm just amazed at how many people think they are ill when basically there is very little wrong with them. Probably like me!

Yes, very often people become ill through stress. Symptom hunting on the internet can also sometimes produce symptoms. The human mind is very powerful and sometimes when you keep thinking about symptoms, the mind obliges and produces symptoms in the body. It's the same sort of principle that causes placebos to sometimes work against illness. As I said, the mind is very powerful.

Other times, people are sick with something else, but because they believe they had a risk, they come to the erroneous conclusion that hiv MUST be the cause of that illness. This is why we always recommend seeing a doctor about symptoms. A person could be missing something very serious - or very benign - by their single-minded focus on hiv.

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

All the advice I have been given on this forum has told me to ignore symptoms and get tested if I think i may have been at risk. Even though the encounter I described previously did not pose a risk and the specific incident in question does not require testing, I still feel a little afraid to be tested. Any advice?

Hello all, I was just looking for some advice. I would just like to know whether anyone feels I need to test over the incident I described earlier in my thread. I feel a bit unsure because I'm trying hard to put this totally out of my mind. Any advice would be greatly appreciated

Condoms have been proven to prevent hiv infection and it doesn't matter if blood is present or not, they still protect. You didn't have a risk.

You should use condoms no matter if your partner is a sex worker or the girl/guy next door. You need to be using condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, every time, no exceptions until such time as you are in a securely monogamous relationship where you have both tested for ALL STIs together. To agree to have unprotected intercourse is to consent to the possibility of being infected with a sexually transmitted infection. Sex with a condom lasts only a matter of minutes, but hiv is forever.

Have a look through the condom and lube links in my signature line so you can use condoms with confidence.

Anyone who is sexually active should be having a full sexual health care check-up, including but not limited to hiv testing, at least once a year and more often if unprotected intercourse occurs.

If you aren't already having regular, routine check-ups, now is the time to start. As long as you make sure condoms are being used for intercourse, you can fully expect your routine hiv tests to return with negative results. Don't forget to always get checked for all the other sexually transmitted infections as well, because they are MUCH easier to transmit than hiv.

Use condoms and avoid hiv infection. It really is that simple.

Ann

You didn't have a risk. You only need to be tested as a part of a routine sexual health care check up if you are sexually active.

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Thanks, I just needed some reassurance because I've been struggling to put this whole thing to the back of my mind, probably because I've been feeling a bit unwell recently. When I've been feeling better I'm convinced there is nothing wrong with me, that there can't possibly be anything wrong with me, but when I feel a bit lousy I think I must be in trouble. I will probably get a test at 13 weeks just to put any doubts to bed, but also to kickstart my routine sexual health care check ups. Thanks again.

Hi, I'm curious to learn as much as I can about HIV in a bid to better educate myself regarding various aspects of the virus. I hope by learning as much as I can about this subject I can be in a better position to protect myself and engage in sexual relations with confidence, concentrating on the facts rather than worrying about the 'what ifs'. A friend recently asked me if sex with a HIV+ person was more likely to result in other STI's as well as HIV. I did not know the answer. Would someone be more likely to catch different STI's from someone who is HIV+? Indeed, does having HIV mean you are more susceptible to other STI's?

Thanks for clearing that up for me RapidRod. I honestly didn't know the answer. I'd heard that it may be easier to become infected if you are already carrying an STI, but I wasn't sure why this was. Obviously condoms if used consistently and properly guard against HIV infection, but condoms don't protect against STI's like herpes. This may sound a bit dumb, but if someone with herpes had protected sex with a HIV+ person, would they have any greater risk of becoming infected with HIV or is there no risk becuase of the condom?

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Ok, this may seem a bit over the top or even paranoid, but I'll ask it anyway. Many people carry HSV-1, usually manifest as a common coldsore. If a person was to become infected with HIV would a coldsore(s) be part of their ARS symptoms? I know this may seem like a silly question but as I mentioned before, I'm keen to find out as many things as I can.

Thanks. I know I'm speculating but I thought maybe if someones immune system was stressed due to HIV then there may be a greater likelihood of an outbreak of cold sores in a person carrying HSV-1. Thanks for putting me straight.

Ok, this is a real longshot, but my housemate was recently involved in a violent game of soccer. He sustained a large cut above his eye and was spat at by one of the opposing players. He was unsure but he thought some of this guys saliva got into his open wound and was worried potentially about various infections. I told him he would be fine as saliva cannot transmit HIV to another person but he said he'd already found out that saliva does contain some HIV. Secondly, following the soccer match, he and the rest of his team shared a large bath. Some of the other players also had open wounds and blood was clearly visible in the water. I told him that if there was any viruses or anything then the hot water would have probably killed them and that there was no risk. I also told him to post on this forum. Was my advice about right?

Yes. About right. Hiv is fragile and very difficult to transmit OUTSIDE the body.

Logged

LIFE is not a race to the grave with the intention of arriving safelyin a pretty and well-preserved body, but, rather to skid in broadside,thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming--WOW! WHAT ARIDE!!!

Thats what I told him. I think he was a bit concerned because he had an open wound and was a bit freaked out about somebody's saliva getting in there. I'll tell him to have a look at some of the stuff on this forum, that should ease his mind. Thanks a lot.

Ok, here's another rumour I heard recently, being a student campus is full of them. At a party a girl gave a guy a blowjob. The guy came in the girls mouth. Alledegedly the girl then kissed another guy a little while later. Presuming the first guy was HIV+, would the traces of cum in the girls mouth be enough to infect the second guy? Strange I know, but I was intrigued when I heard this.

LIFE is not a race to the grave with the intention of arriving safelyin a pretty and well-preserved body, but, rather to skid in broadside,thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming--WOW! WHAT ARIDE!!!

I didn't think it was possible either. I think this rumour came about becuase their was some french kissing involved but I assume the girl either swallowed or spat the semen out becuase I doubt she would have kissed a college jock with a mouth full of cum. Does saliva destroy HIV or prevent its ability to infect?

LIFE is not a race to the grave with the intention of arriving safelyin a pretty and well-preserved body, but, rather to skid in broadside,thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming--WOW! WHAT ARIDE!!!

Ok, I've been posting on here for a while now and I've had all my fears about becoming infected with HIV eased by the straightforward and factual advice I have been given and I am extremely grateful for this. Thank you all. The incident that I have been worried about occured approximately 6 weeks ago and involved a single protected encounter (vaginal sex) with a massage parlour worker. I've never worried about protected sex in the past but this time some blood was present and it really scared me. I've tried hard to forget about this but my mind is racked with worry becuase I have been feeling like ****. I just want to know how reliable a 6 week test is? Is there much chance the result will change at 13 weeks?

I know I am being a little irrational but I feel like I cannot get on with my life until this is all over. I do have obsessive and compulsive tendencies, which have been confirmed by a psychiatrist, such as constant washing of my hands, constant checking of doors, windows, gas stoves etc. I am also able to convince myself that something has occured when it really hasn't. For example, just last week I made myself vomit becuase I thought I had eaten some nuts (I am allergic to nuts) even though deep down I knew I hadn't eaten any. Deep down I know I had protected sex and that there was no risk but part of me has begun to have irrational fears like what if the condom broke without me noticing or something! I know my nervous mind is causing this.

Your money would be better spent working on those anxieties. Good luck I hope you put your mind at ease.

Logged

LIFE is not a race to the grave with the intention of arriving safelyin a pretty and well-preserved body, but, rather to skid in broadside,thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming--WOW! WHAT ARIDE!!!

This forum has been such a big help because I don't really have anyone else to talk to or ask questions. I went through similar anxieties with HIV a few years ago when I had a potentially riskier encounter with a girl I met abroad. I convinced myself then that I'd become infected with HIV and put my family under tremendous pressure with my anxious ways, even though they told me I'd be fine, which of course I was. Naturally I am keen not to repeat that and so I've had to keep this all to myself. I felt fine for the first 4-5 weeks after the incident in question but this last week or so I've felt not right and I'm worried its becuase I have become infected. This is why I enquired about the 6 week test.

I hear what you're saying, and I respect your opinion. I will do something about my OCD as soon as possible. It will undoubtedly settle down when I have resolved my current situation. Now back to my original question. Anybody, how accurate is a 6 week test?

LIFE is not a race to the grave with the intention of arriving safelyin a pretty and well-preserved body, but, rather to skid in broadside,thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming--WOW! WHAT ARIDE!!!

Hello, I've been freaking out about a few HIV issues recently and I'd just like to open up by saying thank you to everyone that has answered my queries and questions even when I've banged on about the same issues time after time. Cheers, your help has been terrific.

I recently asked if a coldsore(s) could be a potential symptom of HIV infection as they are caused by HSV-1. Coldsores can appear for various reasons, including stress or just general feelings of being 'run down'. If HIV infection occured wouldn't that cause a carrier of HSV-1 to become 'run down' enough to experience a coldsore? I've heard coldsores are not HIV specific but I do not understand why this is. I have been worried about potential HIV infection recently. I have a coldsore and it feels like something else to be concerned about. Can anyone shed some light on this?

There are NO HIV SPECIFIC symptoms. Meaning there is nothing that happens to or within the human body SPECIFIC TO when HIV is present. And it means that any symptoms that do occur are related to DOZENS of other causes, NOT SPECIFICALLY (which really is a key word here) related to HIV.

Logged

LIFE is not a race to the grave with the intention of arriving safelyin a pretty and well-preserved body, but, rather to skid in broadside,thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming--WOW! WHAT ARIDE!!!